The Assistive Technology Blog

Who's got the new Windows Vista? (I don't.) But if you do, or are curious about how the new Vista operating system will interact with consumers who use assistive technology, here's another source of info: http://blogs.msdn.com/ptstv/archive/2007/02/15/partner-tv-saqib-shaikh-talks-about-assistive-technology-for-windows-vista.aspx

The blog also provides some other accessibility links, to remind us that Bill and friends have AT users in mind:
The Accessibility home page: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/
Accessibility in Windows Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/windowsvista/default.aspx
Accessibility features in other Microsoft products: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/default.aspx

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There are only a few days left to join in the April online discussion sponsored by the Family Center on Technology and Disability. Dr. Katya Hill of the University of Pittsburgh and Robin Hurd of the AAC Institute will moderate a national discussion of "Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Vocabulary Building". We hope you'll join the discussion or visit the site to read over the transcript of this dialogue. You can also find transcript archives of previous discussions that include topics such as assistive technology mediation, AT issues during times of transition, assistive technology outcomes, AT funding, AT research, Web accessibility, universal design, the SETT Framework, AT and occupational therapy, and emergent literacy. See what others are saying about these important topics. http://www.fctd.info

Posted by Sharon Jones at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Teaching by Design, by Kim Voss, shows readers how to use the computer to design meaningful educational materials for children and adults with special needs. Full of instructions for designing and adapting materials and strategies for using them--including a time-saving CD-ROM of templates--Teaching by Design is useful to parents and teachers of students of all ages with a wide range of disabilities.

Available for purchase from Woodbine House

http://www.woodbinehouse.com

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Theresa e-mailed this question to us regarding types of AT to help her 6th grade daughter access the regular education curriculum. Theresa wrote that her daughter does better when text is highlighted and words are reduced. Her daughters' physician has also filled out a form so she could gain access to enlarged materials.

Theresa, there are many items that are available which might help your daughter. Since you already know that highlighting works, make use of highlighting tape, reading bars or even a small pocket magnifier or magnifier bar. Textbooks can be prepared ahead of class using highlighting tape for focusing on the correct math problem or highlighting the main topic of a paragraph or for defining vocabulary words.

There are also many options available for converting text documents to speech files. Read Please is a free program available for download to a computer it can be found at this web site.

http://www.readplease.com/

With the NIMAS regulations we will also be seeing more textbooks become available in accessible digital formats.

The Boston Public Schools Access Technology Center has put together a list of a variety of ways to adapt books for students. You can access this information at the following link.

http://www.boston.k12.ma.us/teach/technology/emmanuel/ATAdaptBks.pdf

Theresa, thanks for asking we hope this information has been helpful.

Posted by Mona at 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ashley’s Mom Inc. was born out of the need for a mother to find learning solutions for her daughter. Inclusion was the catalyst for the founder to create and identify technology to design meaningful and appropriate software and educational materials for students with different learning needs. Great ideas and products are available on this website!

Check it out!

http://www.ashleysmom.com

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.askaspecialist.ca.gov/at_arc.htm to scan some past questions that Jill Rivers, M.S., Speech/Language and Assistive Technology Specialist has answered. Some of her responses have nice pictures, too!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xyron 900 is a laminate/sticker/magnet/label machine all in one! So you can use your Boardmaker symbols in multiple ways and in multiple places---you are not longer limited by Velcro!! This tool is supposed to be easy to use AND requires no heat or electricity! We heard about this at the Closing the Gap conference. Has anyone used it before?

Check it out on the web!

http://www.xyron.com/enUS/Products/Xyron_900.html

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Got some time on your hands? Get clicking! (thanks to Jennifer)

http://www.exhibitengineering.com/readracer.htm

http://www.exhibitengineering.com/IV.htm

http://www.semanticlight.com/

http://www.virtualdevices.net/Products.htm

http://www.wired.com/culture/education/news/2002/04/51518

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spark-Space has been designed as a tool for the creation of documents; no more writer’s block!
• Bring out your strengths in writing as you build your document.
• It has a fully operational word processor 'behind’ each idea object and the option to switch between a full text and map view.
• It will assist you in ordering your writing with it's unique and automatic approach to ordering and sequencing.
• Sections are re-ordered simply by dragging and dropping idea objects into a new order.
• Save your documents as a word-processed document for use in Word or other WP later.
• Download a 30 day trial

http://www.spark-space.com/

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Microsoft and Berlex are collaborating to identify accessible tools to assist the ever changing needs of individuals with multiple sclerosis. This is a landmark partnership to improve the way technology may help people with MS maintain their health and independence, have support for their life choices, and stay connected with their families, friends, and communities.

For more information check out the website:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOM_NEWS_news_accessibletech

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 8:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on the attachment here to read the Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota's newsletter issue on Adults, Literacy, and AT. Download file

Visit http://www.ldaminnesota.org/news for a great series of newsletters on a range of topics:
LDA Newsletter: Teenagers & Stress
LDA Newsletter: Motivation & Academic Success
LDA Newsletter: Learning Disabilities in Adults
LDA Newsletter: Dyslexia a Reading Disability
LDA Newsletter: Toxic Chemicals & Child Development
LDA Newsletter: School-to-Work Transition
LDA Newsletter: Learning to Read
LDA Newsletter: Information Processing
LDA Newsletter: Attention Deficits
LDA Newsletter: Writing Disabilities & Focus on Attention

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We have a well-stocked Assistive Technology Lab here at the VCU Training and Technical Assistance Center--come see it! There is a range of instructional and assistive software applications, augmentative assistive communication (AAC) devices, active learning tools and more-many available for check-out! The lab is open between 9 AM and 5 PM Monday through Friday; email us using the link above or call us at the VCU T/TAC office if you would like to make an appointment to peruse the AT Lab with one of our specialists!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Have you visited http://www.deafblindonline.co.uk?

Well, go ahead--it was suggested by yesterday's featured blog--and what a great site!

From the website:

This website provides free software for people who are deafblind or have learning disabilities. This software can be used to enable them to learn, explore their surroundings and become more independent. Parents, carers and support staff can download the software and assist the disabled people in using the software.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 4:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You can't, so you might as well click here: http://paulhami.edublogs.org.

From the website:

The purpose of this blog is to highlight free downloadable programs and online resources of good quality that may be of value to educators and their students, especially those involved in special education.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.closingthegap.com for the Closing the Gap Resource Directory: A guide to the latest computer-related products for children and adults with special needs (lower right-hand corner). Just type in a keyword and get back great information.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check the VATS calendar! There are a range of training both across Virginia and nationwide. There's even a way to add to the calendar...and help others to find info, too.
http://www.vats.org/calendar.asp

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.exceptionalcomputing.com/curriculum_sharing.htm and explore Kristen Haugen's curriculum ideas. Materials include:

Multiple Intelligences and Technology
Activities for Single Switch Toys and Appliances
Strategies Using Low Cost Voice Output
KidPix Worksheet Ideas
Math Focus: Money Magic
Developing a Thematic Unit with Accessible Activities
Thematic Unit Planning Outline
Brainstorm for a "Trains" Theme

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Interested in staying abreast of the latest conversation on assistive technology in higher education? Join the Assistive Technologists in Higher Education Network blog, http://athenpro.blogspot.com/, where you'll find this growing dialogue.

Posted by Fran Smith at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Amazon.com, the online resource for books and other popular items, has pledged its commitment to continue improving the accessibility of its Web site platform. The National Federation for the Blind will contribute its expertise in Web accessibility technologies to help further Amazon.com’s efforts. To read more, follow this link:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=174

Posted by Fran Smith at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The National Center for Technology Innovation has a new website! This national voice on innovation also includes resources on assistive technology and universal design. For more information, visit http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/

Posted by Fran Smith at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The CAST UDL Lesson Builder website provides links for exploring model lesson plans that have infused universal design for learning (UDL). Users can also create and build their own. For more information, visit http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/

Posted by Fran Smith at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Upcoming webinars are being hosted by the Center for Implementing Technology in Education across a range of topics including universal design for learning and enhancing content reading with technology. For more information please review http://www.cited.org/index.aspx?page_id=140

Posted by Fran Smith at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Key to Access VPOD is a new tool from Premiere Assistive Technology that builds on the great features of the original Key to Access MP3 player, but also has advanced MP4 capabilities. This portable tool allows the user to utilize both AUDIO and VIDEO podcasts to further enhance the learning experience. For more information visit, http://www.readingmadeez.com/VPod.php

Posted by Fran Smith at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check out the Microsoft ("Hi, Bill!") site at http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx for an overview of AT available for the Windows operating system:

"descriptions of the various types of assistive technology products that are currently available on the market today. You may also want to use a tool to identifying the right type of assistive technology that might be useful, then search the catalog of assistive technology products for products compatible with the Windows operating system"

Also click on articles about:
- Identifying the Right Assistive Technology
- Search for Assistive Technology Products
- Members of the Microsoft Assistive Technology Vendor Program (MATvp)

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)